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This episode commenced with a isolated photograph, possibly the most impactful ever snapped of a individual from the royal household.

Present was the Earl of Inverness, arm-in-arm a female youth, while a companion smiled knowingly in the background.

Absent that image, captured at a social event in 2001, who would have believed the assertions of a adolescent who declared she was moved across the sea and forced to have cursory intimate contact with a individual of the royal family?

A strange, indicative action by someone who had publicly stated to have never been aware of her, asserted he could never have had sex with her, and yet provided millions of monarchical funds to resolve a protracted court action.

A Long Period of Scandal

Against this backdrop, discussions of the monarchy acting firmly to sever ties with Andrew are inaccurate. This scandal has persisted for the better part of 15 years since that image, and another image of Andrew ambling amiably with a notorious individual emerged.

• Hubris: For what duration did his brothers and sisters, perhaps even his parents, realize that Andrew was so self-entitled?
• Questionable Associations: They must have understood, if his employees and the law enforcement were doing their jobs, that he had some extremely unsavory friends given he unabashedly hosted them to palaces.
• Fiscal Irresponsibility: If the family did not know about his sexual proclivities, they certainly knew about his overspending with taxpayer funds.

Trips were printed in public records: chopper flights from the estate to a country club and back again in time for midday meal, private flights instead of scheduled services, all for the benefit of "the frequent flyer".

A Life of Privilege

Then there was the entitlement which required respect when he appeared in a space or the extreme consciousness about his honorifics used on his official documents in letters to his personal acquaintances.

He avoided accountability while his mother, who strangely pampered him, was still alive. The monarch did at least revoke him of public duties and ceremonial ranks in the wake of his disastrous and, we now know, untruthful public statement six years ago.

Latest Events

Merely in the last 14 days that events accelerated, following the publication of accounts giving more grim information of his actions and that of his associates.

Additional revelations have again revealed Andrew's assumption that he could avoid being untruthful about his relationship with a disgraced individual.

The public (and the press) were far ahead of the monarchy. There was no one of any consequence to speak up for him, a result of all those years of arrogance.

Monarchical Concerns

The more intelligent monarchical figures recognized that. The one imperative is to transfer the institution, if not as before at least complete and untarnished.

For generations the last 190 years trying to undo the legacy of past sovereigns, showing they are useful, responsible and responsive to their people.

Andrew was putting all that in danger in an era when submission and secrecy is no longer enough.

Consequences

Ultimately, the famously indecisive sovereign was pressured further. There was little choice. The institution had surrendered command of the story.

Currently the stripping of designations and the persistent and life-long personal shame that will pain Andrew most severely.

• Downgrading: Lowered to just a private citizen
• Past Example: The primary member to lose his designations in contemporary era
• Naval Career: Notably stinging given his duty in the Falklands war

He remains a royal advisor, in principle able to act for the king, and he is still eighth in line to the monarchy, but not any of these will truly come to pass.

Future Prospects

Can persons he meets still show respect to him? Could they still slip up and call him Your Highness? Might they say Mr,

Certainly, he is not moving to a common area, but to the royal family's vast estate at a monarchical property.

There, he will be supplied by the sovereign with one of the estate properties and given some sort of private allowance.

It is not his former home, where he paid a nominal lease for more than 20 years, and Norfolk is a bit far, but even so it may not be adequate distance.

Outstanding Concerns

Matters remain unresolved. There are still files in the custody of overseas authorities to be made public.

• Parliamentary Interest: Might parliament request additional information
• Fiscal Review: Or examine the improper use of state resources
• Legal Possibility: There may even be a police investigation into his actions

Perhaps for the present the harm to the monarchy to the institution is restricted. The statement from the royal household was clearly that the revocation of designations was what the monarch, and especially other senior monarchical figures, sought.

Altered Approach

An end to deception that Andrew was doing it voluntarily. And, significantly, the brief communication showed evidently that the royals were aligning with the accuser's narrative of incidents.

Furthermore, for the initial instance they finally showed concern for the victims: "These actions are judged required, regardless of the reality that he persists in refuting the allegations against him."

Ultimately it is presumption, self-seeking and indolence that will destroy the institution. In his stupidity, personal excess and corruption, Andrew seems never to have grasped that reality.